Interference of Waves from Double Slit (Young's Experiment)

Thomas Young observed interference of light and measured the wavelength of light in this classic experiment, performed around 1801. It provided the clinching evidence in Young's arguments for the wave model for light. This Demonstration shows two light waves of the samewavelength (shown in red and blue for ease of viewing) which have passed through two narrow slits and, as a result of diffraction, are traveling at an angle to their original direction of propagation. At the angle shown above, red and blue wave crests alternate and cancel, resulting in a dark spot on the screen. At other angles , red and blue crests fall on top of one another and reinforce, resulting in a bright spot on the screen. The user can vary the angle , the wavelength , and the distance between the slits to see how changes in the three variables affect the interference pattern formed by the two waves. The "double slit" formula relates , , and , the number of wavelengths difference in the path length of the two waves.

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Snapshot 1: The red and blue wave crests fall on top of each other and thus reinforce each other, which would result in a bright spot on the screen at this angle. The blue waves are one full wavelength "ahead of" the red waves.

Snapshot 2: The wavelength is smaller than in Snapshot 1. As a result, the angle at which the red and blue wave crests fall on top of each other must also be smaller. As in Snapshot 1, this would result in a bright spot on the screen at this angle. The blue waves are one full wavelength "ahead of" the red waves.

Snapshot 3: The wavelength and slit width are the same as in Snapshot 2. However, the angle is much larger and the wave crests are still falling on top of each other. This is the result of the fact that the blue waves are now twofull wavelengths "ahead of" the blue waves.